Strawberry plant named &#39;PETALUMA&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘Petaluma’ is a short-day (June bearing) cultivar similar to ‘Camarosa’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,708) but with greater productivity, higher quality fruit, and earlier production; it is similar to ‘Ventana’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,469) and ‘Benicia’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,542), but with a more healthy plant, superior fruit quality, and firmer, better-flavored fruit.

GENUS AND SPECIES

The strawberry cultivar of this invention is botanically identified asFragaria ×ananassa Duch.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The variety denomination is ‘Petaluma’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinctive short-day type cultivardesignated as ‘Petaluma’, which resulted from a cross performed in 2008between two unreleased germplasm accessions Cal 5.97-7 and Cal 5.165-1.Accession Cal 5.97-7 was chosen as a parent due to its very high earlyproductivity, large and high quality fruit, and moderate plant vigor.Accession Cal 5.165-1 was chosen as a parent due to its vigorous butopen plant habit and firm, large and flavorful fruit, and extendedproductivity.

‘Petaluma’ was first fruited at the University of California South CoastResearch and Extension Center, near Irvine, Calif. in 2009, where it wasselected, originally designated Cal 8.20-602, and propagated asexuallyby runners. Following selection and during testing the plant of thisselection was designated ‘C231’. It was later designated ‘Petaluma’ forintroduction into commerce and for international registration andrecognition. Asexual propagules from this original source have beentested at the Watsonville Strawberry Research Facility, the South CoastResearch and Extension Center, and to a limited extent in grower fieldsstarting in 2010. The cultivar is stable and reproduces true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Petaluma’ is a short-day (June bearing) cultivar similar to ‘Camarosa’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,708) but with greater productivity, higherquality fruit, and earlier production; it is similar to ‘Ventana’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 13,469) and ‘Benicia’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,542), butwith a more healthy plant, superior fruit quality, and firmer,better-flavored fruit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The Figures depict various characteristics of the ‘Petaluma’ cultivar.

FIG. 1 shows the general flowering and fruiting characteristics of theplant in a field planting.

FIG. 2 shows a typical leaf at mid-season.

FIG. 3 shows representative mid-season fruit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

‘Petaluma’ is typical of short-day strawberry cultivars and producesfruit over an extended period when treated appropriately in arid,subtropical climates. The production pattern for ‘Petaluma’ is similarto that for ‘Camarosa’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,708), although it isearlier to initiate fruiting with most cultural treatments. ‘Petaluma’initiates fruiting concurrently with or slightly earlier than ‘Ventana’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,469) and has a similar production pattern to‘Benicia’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,542) when established in very earlyfall. ‘Petaluma’ will be of special interest for winter plantings, where‘Camarosa’, ‘Ventana’, and ‘Benicia’ have been successful, and in summerplantings where ‘Chandler’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,262) and ‘Camino Real’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,079) have been successful.

Plants and foliage:

Fruiting plants of ‘Petaluma’ are slightly taller and more open than‘Ventana’ and are similar in size to ‘Benicia’ throughout most of theproduction season with most cultural treatments. ‘Petaluma’ plants aresimilar in size to ‘Camarosa’ in most production environments.Comparative statistics for foliar characters near mid-season are givenfor ‘Petaluma’ and three comparison cultivars in Table 1. Individualleaflets for ‘Petaluma’ are slightly larger than any of the comparisoncultivars, and are more elongated than for ‘Benicia’. Leaves (includingpetioles) for ‘Petaluma’ are slightly shorter than for ‘Ventana’ and‘Benicia’. Petioles for ‘Petaluma’ are generally longer than those of‘Ventana’ and ‘Camarosa’. The adaxial (upper) and abaxial (lower)surfaces of leaves for ‘Petaluma’ are similar in color to, or darkerthan those for ‘Camarosa’ and ‘Benicia’; and darker and less yellow thanfor ‘Ventana’ leaves at midseason. Leaves of ‘Petaluma’ have similarconcavity to ‘Camarosa’, and are less concave those for ‘Ventana’.Serrations at midseason are less pointed than for ‘Benicia’, similar inshape and number to ‘Ventana’ and ‘Camarosa’.

Table 1 Foliar and plant characteristics for ′Petaluma′, ′Camarosa′,′Ventana′, and ′Benicia′. Cultivar Foliar Character ′Camarosa′ ′Ventana′′Benicia′ ′Petaluma′ Plant height (mm) mean 227 277 245 319 range190-320 250-300 220-260 300-350 Plant spread (mm) mean 368 425 414 401range 300-465 375-525 360-500 400-560 Mid-tier leaflet Length (mm) mean85 89 80 96 range 70-95 80-110 70-90 80-120 Width (mm) mean 79 77 80 72range 65-90 70-90 75-80 60-80 Mid-tier leaf Length (mm) mean 230 231 264244 range 200-290 180-260 220-310 210-280 Width (rnm) mean 143 153 161141 range 120-170 140-160 150-180 120-160 Leaf components Petiole length(mm) mean 110 113 136 130 range  90-150  80-120 110-160 120-140 Petiolediameter (mm) mean 3.6 5.3 4.9 4.5 range 3-4 4-7 4-6 4-5 Petiolulelength (mm) mean 5.1 6.9 5.3 5.6 range 4-6 6-8 4-6 5-7 #leaflets/leaf 33 3, rarely 4 or 3 5 Leaf convexity most flat to flat to very flat toconcave to slight concave concave concave convex Serrations number/leaf20.8 20.6 20.5 20.4 range 19-23 semi- 18-25 semi- 18-23 18-22 semi-shape pointed pointed Round to pointed semi-pointed Leaf pubescencelight- moderate- moderate- heavy moderate heavy light Petiole pubescencedensity heavy moderate- heavy heavy heavy direction perpendicularperpendicular perpendicular perpendicular to acropetal Petiole color(Munsell) 2.5 GY 8/9 7.5 GY 9/4 7.5 GY 8/10 7.5 GY 8/7 Stipule length(mm) mean 27.2 24.0 31.1 29.9 range 20-34 20-30 25-40 22-34 Stipulecolor core 2.5 Y 6/8 2.5 GY 8/9 2.5 Y 9/4 2.5 GY 9/8 margms 7.5 Y 6/7  5 GY 8/8 5 GY 8/8   5 GY 8/8 Stolon base diameter (mm) 11.7 15.2 16.513.0 Stolons per nursery mother 22.7 18.8 22.9 21.1 plant Venationpattern pinnate pinnate pinnate pinnate color 7.5 GY 8/7 7.5 GY 9/4 7.5GY 8/7   5 GY 8/9

Disease and Pest Reaction:

‘Petaluma’ is moderately resistant to powdery mildew (Sphaerothecamacularis), but is moderately susceptible to Anthracnose crown rot(Colletotrichum acutatum), and moderately resistant to Verticillium wilt(Verticillium dahliae); it is intermediate in resistance to Phytophthoracrown rot (Phytophthora cactorum) and common leaf spot (Ramulariatulasnei) (Table 2). When treated properly, it has tolerance totwo-spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) equal to that for thecomparison cultivars. ‘Petaluma’ is tolerant to strawberry virusesencountered in California.

TABLE 2 Disease resistance scores for ′Petaluma′ and three comparisoncultivars; all scores were obtained in evaluations conducted in2012-2013. Phytophthora Verticillium Colletotrichum Resistance ScoreResistance Score Resistance Score Genotype (5 = best) (5 = best) (5 =best) ′Camarosa′ 3.6 2.8 2.3 ′Ventana′ 2.1 2.9 3.0 ′Benicia′ 3.5 1.6 2.5′Petaluma′ 3.9 4.2 2.2

Flowering, Fruiting, Fruit, and Production Characteristics:

‘Petaluma’ is similar to other California short-day strawberry cultivars(e. g. ‘Ventana’, ‘Camarosa’, and ‘Benicia’) in that it will flower overan extended period and into spring or summer, given appropriate localtemperature and horticultural conditions. With most planting treatments‘Petaluma’ produces fruit as early as ‘Ventana’ and ‘Benicia’ andearlier than for ‘Camarosa’. Comparative statistics for flower and fruitcharacters near mid-season are given for the four cultivars in Table 4.The primary flowers for ‘Petaluma’ are similar in size to ‘Camarosa’with a calyx that is distinctly larger than the corolla on primaryfruit; the flowers are smaller than for ‘Benicia’ and ‘Ventana’. Thecalyx for ‘Petaluma’ varies in position but frequently has a slightindent early in the season and is even with the fruit later in theseason; each primary flower has 5-6 petals, similar to the comparisoncultivars on average. The fruit shape for ‘Petaluma’ is consistentthroughout the season, and is typically medium to long conic. It iseasily distinguished by fruit shape from ‘Camarosa’ (shortened andflattened conic), or ‘Ventana’ (medium symmetrical conic), and ‘Benicia’(often flattened). External and internal fruit color for ‘Petaluma’ issimilar to that for ‘Camarosa’ and ‘Benicia’, darker than for ‘Ventana’(Table 3). Achenes vary from yellow to dark red, and are even with thefruit surface or slightly indented.

TABLE 3 Foliar and fruit color characteristics for ′Petaluma′ and threecomparison cultivars. Color Cultivar Character ′Camarosa′ ′Ventana′′Benicia′ ′Petaluma′ Leaf color (CIELAB) Adaxial L* mean 38.3 39.2 35.037.4 range 37.3-39.8 36.0-41.1 33.3-36.4 35.2-39.0 a* mean −12.2 −14.3−11.7 −11.6 range  −9.5-−15.5 −12.9-−16.7 −10.3-−13.5  −6.6 - −15.6 b*mean 16.9 20.6 16.9 15.7 range 13.3-19.9 17.3-24.8 13.1-21.7 11.2-19.4Munsell   5 GY 5/5 2.5 GY 6/8   5 GY 5/6 7.5 GY 4/4 Abaxial L* mean 52.553.2 48.5 52.0 range 51.3-54.6 51.8-54.6 41.7-52.3 46.0-53.7 a* mean−13.1 −14.2 −13.5 −13.16 range −11.4-−14.9 −13.9-−14.7 −11.9-−16.8−11.1-−15.8 b* mean 20.5 21.7 20.0 20.3 range 18.9-22.4 20.3-23.317.9-21.9 19.3-21.9 Munsell 7.5 GY 8/7  10 GY 8/7 7.5 GY 5/7 7.5 GY 8/9Fruit color (CIELAB) External L* mean 38.6 38.1 36.0 38.0 range34.7-42.7 37.6-39.0 34.2-37.5 35.7-41.3 a* mean 34.4 33.4 31.2 32.0range 33.6-36.2 29.4-38.7 26.6-36.3 33.3-35.8 b* mean 22.5 19.2 14.216.6 range 18.8-29.3 17.8-21.1 10.6-17.3 13.0-21.8 Munsell 7.5 R 4/11  5 R 4/12 2.5 R 4/0 7.5 R 4/11 Internal L* mean 50.2 48.6 44.0 48.4range 46.6-53.3 46.2-52.3 40.8-47.0 45.2-52.6 a* mean 30.8 28.9 30.927.9 range 25.6-35.4 23.5-33.0 27.8-33.6 20.7-31.6 b* mean 30.1 31.327.5 30.2 range 28.0-32.0 30.6-32.5 24.6-28.8 25.4-35.3 Munsell 7.5 R5/13 7.5 R 6/13   5 R 4/2   5 R 6/11 Achene color 2.5 Y 7/10 10 Y 8/11  5 R 3/7 7.5 R 4/11 Munsell

TABLE 4 Flower and fruit characters for ′Petaluma ′and three comparisoncultivars. Cultivar Character ′Camarosa ′ ′Ventana′ ′Benicia′ ′Petaluma′Petal number mean 5.8 6.2 6.1 5.6 range 5-7 5-7 5-7 5-6 Petal shape apextruncate totruncate totruncate totruncate to slightly slightly slightlyslightly base obtuse obtuse obtuse obtuse margin attenuate attenuateattenuate attenuate entire entire entire entire Petal length (mm) mean11.5 13.3 11.7 11.6 range 10-13 11-15 8-13 11-13 Petal width (mm) mean12.0 14.6 14.4 13.0 range 10-14 13-16 8-13 12-14 Flower position mosteven even to even to even to (relative to some exposed exposed exposedfoliage) exposed Calyx diam. (mm) mean 40.4 47.0 50.8 34.7 range 33-4740-50 47-53 26-38 Corolla diam. (mm) mean 26.1 39.0 39.6 27.0 range23-31 35-45 39-41 23-30 Sepal length (mm) mean 14.3 16.6 16.4 13.9 range12-18 14-19 13-20 12-16 Sepal width (mm) mean 8.3 8.4 8.4 10.2 range7-10 7-10 7-10 8-12 Sepal color 5 GY 7/10 5 GY 5/5 10 GY 8/7 5 GY 8/8(Munsell) Pedicel length (mm) mean 155 115 183 198 range 130-180 90-140150-210 170-200 Pedicel diameter (mm) mean 2.7 3.5 3.7 3.1 range 2-4 3-43-5 2-5 Pedicel color 7.5 GY 8/7 5 GY 8/9 2.5 GY 8/9 2.5 GY 9/8 Fruitshape Fruit length (mm) mean 46.0 48.4 46.5 45.8 range 40-48 47-52 41-5240-53 Fruit width (mm) mean 37.4 42.6 42.4 40.3 range 33-46 40-46 36-4636-46 Length/ width ratio 1.26 1.17 1.08 1.11 range 1.0-1.4 1.1-1.21.0-1.2 1.1-1.2 subjective Obovate-flat Medium Medium Medium-long conicconic conic Primary/ secondary fruit comparison size (subjective) 50-70%55-75% 55-65% 55-75% shape similar similar shape similar shape similarshape shape, more conic Extent/size of small-absent small small-absentsmall-absent hollow core Calyx position indented- indent- even-indentedeven- neck reflexed indented size relative to equal or less equal orless equal or equal or fruit than fruit than fruit greater than smallerthan diameter diameter fruit diameter fruit diameter Seed positionindented- mostly even even-indented even to extruded extruded Adherenceof weak intermediate weak reflexed Calyx to FruitFlower and plant measurements obtained on April, 2012, fruitmeasurements May 10-20, 2012.

‘Petaluma’has been tested under a variety of cultural regimes, andoptimal performance is obtained when nursery treatments and nutritionalprograms similar to those for ‘Camarosa’, ‘Ventana’, and ‘Benicia’ areused. In general, plants of ‘Petaluma’ are greater in vigor than‘Camarosa’, and are similar in vigor to ‘Ventana’ with very early seasonplanting. ‘Petaluma’ retains excellent fruit quality in summer plantingsystems.

When treated with appropriate planting regimes, ‘Petaluma’ has similarsized fruit and produces individual-plant yields greater than any of thecomparison cultivars (Table 5). Commercial appearance ratings have alsobeen substantially better than those for all of the comparisoncultivars, especially in comparison with ‘Camarosa’. Fruit for‘Petaluma’ is substantially firmer than fruit from ‘Ventana’ and similarin firmness to the other comparison cultivars. Subjectively, ‘Petaluma’has very good flavor. The fruit will be exceptional for both freshmarket and processing, and will be useful for home garden purposes.

TABLE 5 ′Petaluma′ and three comparison cultivars evaluated at theWatsonville Research Facility in 2010-12. All plants for these trialswere harvested from a commercial nursery near Macdoel, CA on October15-16, and transplanted after 6-7 days supplemental storage. Fruitharvest was initiated in early April and continued through the last weekof August. (52″ 2-row beds, 17,300 plants/acre). Appearance Fruit YieldScore Size Item (g/plant) (5 = best) (g/fruit) Firmness ′Camarosa′ 1,8152.8 27.1 11.6 ′Ventana′ 2,080 3.3 30.1 10.2 ′Benicia′ 1,649 3.4 33.111.1 ′Petaluma′ 2,307 4.2 32.6 12.2

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry planthaving the characteristics substantially as described and illustratedherein.